John o donnell and samuel jellinek



(Model.)

J. ODONNE LL &, s. JELLINEK'.

MARITIME MAIL CHEST.

Patented Feb. 28,1882.

nvenians"; 5%

n PETERS, Filnlo-L'rlhognlpher. Walhingtm. an;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IOHN ODONNELL AND SAMUEL JELLINEK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.; SAID JEL- LINEK ASSIGNOR TO SAID ODONNELL.

MARITIME MAIL-CH EST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,152, dated February 28, 1882.

Application filed December 29,1880. (Model) To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that we, JOHN ODoNNnLL and SAMUEL J ELLINEK, both of the city, county,

and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Maritime Mail-Chests, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to an improved maritime chest intended for the safe carrying of the mails and the protection of the same in case the ship is wrecked or abandoned.

The invention consists of a double-walled vessel or chest having a cork-packed jacket, weighted bottom, and removable exterior and interior covers, together with devices for giving alarm-signals, as will appear more fully hereinafter, and finally be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel represents a perspective view of our improved maritime mail-chest as ready for launching, and Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondi'n g parts. Y

In the drawings, A represents the exterior cylinder of our improved mail-chest, which outer cylinder is made of suitable sheet metal and provided with a bottom, D. V

B is the'interior cylinder, which has a bottom, F, and which is arranged concentrically to the outer cylinder and rigidly secured in position by ring-shaped partitions E, which are riveted to the exterior and interior cylinders.

The space between the cylinders is divided by the partitions E into annular compartments or sections (l, which are filled with cork or other material, so as to give the entire structure the required degree of buoyancy.

The inner cylinder, B, is closed by a cover, H, which is tightly secured thereto and locked by a bar, J, passing through fixed staples N at diametrically-opposite points of the cylinder and through a central ring, L, by which latter the cover is lifted for removal from the inside cylinder. A lock, I;secures the lock-barJ to the inner cylinder.

is tightly fitted by suitable rubber packing or otherwise to the top of the outer cylinder and locked by a padlock, 0, applied to a bar, I, which is passed through staples M of the outer cylinder and intermediate rings or eyes, K, of the cover Gr, so as to prevent the lifting and detaching of the cover, while also facilitating the removal of the same when the lock-bar is detached.

The space Z between the bottoms D and F of the cylinders A and D is filled with some heavy material, which serves as a weight by which the perpendicular floating of the chest is secured. The outer cylinder, A, is provided with hinged handles T, which are applied to staples U for the purpose of taking hold of the chest in carrying or launching the same, or for lashing it on deck during transportation.

To diametrically-opposite points of the outer cylinder, A, is applied by means of pivots V a bell-frame, W, which is thrown down in contact with the outer cylinder, as shown in dotted lines at a a in Fig. 1, but adapted to be raised into vertical position and retained by recesses Y of the cover G, so as to hold the bell-frame vertically when the chest is to be 7 launched. The side bars of the bell-frame W are connected by a transverse, straight, or are 7 5 shaped rod, which forms a part of the bellframe, and which supports by central suspension devices, S, a bell, Q, the bell being attached whenever the chest is to be launched. A flagrod, X, extends from the transverse rod of the bell-frame W vertically above the bell, and is, provided with staples for attaching the flag It by means of spring-snaps b.

' To the flag-rod may also be attached a lantern, which serves as a signal at night. When the ship is to be abandoned or wrecked the mail-chests are launched, for which purpose the bell-frame is thrown up into the recesses of the outer cover and the bell and flag placed in proper position, so that they will indicate the presence of the floating chest and the same be made liable to be picked up by passing vessels, so that the mails are thereby properly preserved, and also valuables, the ships log, and other articles which may be stored in the top 5 part of the chest saved.

In connection with the chest may be used automatic signals-such as rockets and other explosives, for which proper arrangements are to he madein addition to the other signal devices described.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A maritime mail-chest consisting of an outer cylinder, A, inner cylinder. B, horizontal partitions E, intermediate cork-filled sections, G, weighted bottom D F, and removable interior and exterior covers, G and H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a maritime mail-chest, the combination, with the outercylinder, A, and its ooverG,

having recesses Y, of a pivoted bell-frame, W, carrying a central flag-rod and devices for attaching flag and bell, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of a double-walled and bottom-weighted maritime chest having a corkfilled jacket and removable covers with alarm and signaling devices adapted to be secured to the top of the chest, substantially as set forth.

JOHN ODONNELL. SAMUEL J ELLlNEK. Witnesses:

EVAN l. GEORGE, J12, HENRY GAssrnY. 

